Category Archives: 2017 Public Advocate Race

New York City’s three citywide elected officials were sworn in to second terms Monday, with Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Letitia James and Comptroller Scott Stringer taking their oaths in front of City Hall on a bitterly cold afternoon. All three were reelected to a second and final term in November, with term limits precluding 2021 reelection bids. They’re able to run for each others offices however, with James and Stringer widely seen as contemplating mayoral runs.

Republican candidate for public advocate J.C.Polanco and Republican candidate for comptroller Michel Faulkner each pledged that their respective debates this week will be far more civil and controlled than last week’s mayoral debate. That debate has been widely criticized for its raucous tone. Speaking just ahead of a Queens County Republican “unity breakfast” Saturday both candidates criticized the mayoral debate and expressed confidence that their debates will be different. Polanco and Faulkner debate their respective Democratic opponent this week. Continue reading Republican Candidates Pledge Civil Debates→

The Queens Republican Party held a “unity breakfast” Saturday, drawing all three citywide Republican candidates, Nicole Malliotakis, J.C. Polanco and Michel Faulkner, Borough President candidate William Kregler and City Council candidates Joe Concannon, Bob Holden and Konstantinos Poulidis. The breakfast drew a small audience primarily composed of Queens GOP district leaders.

Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis and Republican public advocate candidate J.C. Polanco held a press conference today in front of Rivington House, the former nursing home entangled in a de Blasio administration scandal. Malliotakis and Polanco sought to draw renewed attention to the tangled tale of Rivington House and to the relationship of Mayor de Blasio and lobbyist Jame Capalino. Capalino was a key figure in the elimination of Rivington House deed restrictions that opened the possibility of a for-profit real estate project at Rivington House.

Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis, who is also a member of the New York State Assembly, said tonight that she will vote for a “clean” one year extension of mayoral control of the City’s schools tomorrow. That’s what appears likely to introduced at a special session of the Assembly tomorrow, but it’s not yet certain. Her stated intention was qualified by the possibility that a bill providing for such an extension could include unrelated items, and she may not vote for such an omnibus or combined bill.

Unsurprisingly, Malliotakis offered criticism of Mayor de Blasio’s school management and spending, but said that if it were up to her she would support a multi-year extension of mayoral control.

We spoke just ahead of Malliotakis’ appearance tonight at the West Side Republican Club.

J.C. Polanco, expected to be a candidate for public advocate, made a very impressive appearance at the Queens Village Republican Club Thursday night. Polanco has been visiting many Republican political organizations throughout the City over the past couple of months, preparing to launch a bid for public advocate. As recently as Thursday he said that he expects to formally launch his campaign this week. Continue reading Polanco At QVRC→